Why are people saying GTA 6 is woke pandering from the trailer?

[Hoppled]

For years, I’ve been watching a YouTuber named worthabuy. He’s always been someone I trusted with his assessment on games because he really does seem passionate about the quality in today’s standards and knows how great AAA games were back then compared to now (Half-Life, old Blizzard, etc.).

However, over the years I’ve also noticed this sort of weird reactionary view that comes out in his videos as of late. I for sure think Farcry 6 and the new Spider-Man have “woke”, cringe characters, for example. His reaction to some other games, though, have made me scratch my head. This one puzzle game where it’s just you and a abstract looking environment was somehow woke and now GTA 6’s trailer.

I’ve watched the trailer over just to see where it is woke and I’m still unsure. Is it because one of the main characters is a women? So? There’s been crime movies from the 70s with similar premises (Badlands). She doesn’t have dyed hair and or an undercut or even piercings. She doesn’t even really say anything.

Maybe it’s the NPCs walking about modern Vice City? In the trailer they’re mostly Black/Latino and there’s a cringe scene of a Black woman twerking on top of a car. Firstly, VC is supposed to be what Miami is, clearly. Miami is overwhelmingly NON-WHITE. The whole twerking stuff is a reflection of the modern-day, cringe social media we observe all over.

I can draw direct relevance to all the demographic and other media references in the trailer without it boiling down to “checking off boxes”, which is how he describes the whole trailer in the video.

Thoughts?

[kingjames488]

Hoppled a écrit :

kingjames488 a écrit :

I did before... they're just throwing a bunch of racial stereotypes around to annoy everyone and being like "what? isn't that how the people be?"

That isn't being "woke" though. The people who call everything woke probably like that type of forced stereotypes (south park). And GTA has always done stuff like that. Like a hyperbolic reflection of modern society & media.

I've only somewhat recently thought I wrapped my head around this whole woke/based thing...

isn't south park based tho? since it depicts things that are more in tune with reality?

whereas GTA 6 would be more woke since it depicts a bunch of ridiculous racial bull**** to push an agenda? (keeping in mind that driving sales can also be an agenda)?

[kilésengati]

I haven't watched the trailer, but from what I've heard, the game could either come out as corporate-friendly woke rubbish or taking a piss on everything including woke culture.
Sure the latter would happen under the Housers, not sure if they found a worthy successor.

[The Afghani Avenger]

Hoppled a écrit :

Why are people saying GTA 6 is woke pandering from the trailer?

Why do you care what other people think? Why does that bother you so much?

[Chunk Norris ☯]

Hoppled a écrit :

kingjames488 a écrit :

I did before... they're just throwing a bunch of racial stereotypes around to annoy everyone and being like "what? isn't that how the people be?"

That isn't being "woke" though. The people who call everything woke probably like that type of forced stereotypes (south park). And GTA has always done stuff like that. Like a hyperbolic reflection of modern society & media.

Woke people keep the stereotypes that they claim to be offended about alive. Look at what type of laws woke people support...laws like affirmative action or equity laws that give advantages based on racial stereotypes....or gender stereotypes, etc.

[Birds]

the serie's reptuation is based on controversy, so in the absence of any of the origina lfounders or producers it has likely done exactly that.

[GhostyOsty]

Because they're uneducated and undeniably stupid. Yeah, no ♥♥♥♥ sherlock. The whole point of the series is to mock the American Government and generalised ignorant Society.

[Hoppled]

kingjames488 a écrit :

Hoppled a écrit :

That isn't being "woke" though. The people who call everything woke probably like that type of forced stereotypes (south park). And GTA has always done stuff like that. Like a hyperbolic reflection of modern society & media.

I've only somewhat recently thought I wrapped my head around this whole woke/based thing...

isn't south park based tho? since it depicts things that are more in tune with reality?

whereas GTA 6 would be more woke since it depicts a bunch of ridiculous racial bull**** to push an agenda? (keeping in mind that driving sales can also be an agenda)?

No, most of what is actually "woke" is ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ to begin with. Most of the people calling the GTA 6 trailer woke are probably just racist; I've yet to be proven otherwise. What I'd consider woke is something like Far Cry 6 or the new Spiderman game. "Woke", just means being progressive in a very cringe manner. Shoe-horned, uninspired characters that are solely there because their race, sexuality, etc., which is made evident by how poorly written and cringey they are.

If you look at a certain cutscene from Far Cry 6... its infuriatingly cringey. It's not even the progressive values themselves, but because of how its expressed and the characters. Progressivism can be shown in games without being cringey, which we have seen in games and media as far back as the 90s.

So... the whole word is quite meaningless, since it just means large companies disingenuously trying to "check boxes", rather than being real advocates for progressive ideas. It's all a business move. Same thing with Bud Light and same thing with Mr. Potato Head (I can't believe that's even considered progressive though tbh). There are of course the other side of "woke" you may see in media, where a tiktok will go viral with a blue-haired woman says "all white cis-men are evil", etc., but that is almost NEVER the case in a videogame, at least to what I've seen. Just cringe is what I observe.

[MinionJoe]

Unexpected a écrit :

too many people are quick to accuse games of pandering to a certain political agenda. can't we just wait to see what the game actually is? especially since GTA built its reputation on parody and stereotypes so its not always something to take seriously.
also that's all realistic miami shenanigans lol

Yes, we should definitely wait until the game is out before making a final judgement.

But given what's been going on in Rockstar Studios for the past couple years, we can make some educated guesses on what it's going to be like beforehand.

[ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

I honestly think that it's kind of dumb how people are already calling the game woke considering its only a reveal trailer. Even if it is, I don't really care about the story and stuff that much, but instead will focus on the game play and other things. Like there's a female protagonist, whatever, im here to play gta

[Masque]

Is the portrayal, going by the trailer alone, of black people considered offensive -- or instead is it considered "Lit AF" and seen as a legit representation of black people in America, and something to be proud of? Check the X and YouTube comments. Very few blacks are offended by their portrayal in this short trailer.

This is how you know what satire is. Is it making fun of black people, from what you can see?

No. I don't think it is, and I do believe that the intended audience of black Americans are watching this trailer and thinking "wow, Rockstar really did us good with this one". Indeed, the trailer showcases black people enjoying life in America to the fullest.

Now ask the same question about the white people in the trailer. How are they portrayed, aside from the main character? Rednecks and Karens, homeless and crazy, stereotypical Florida Man, actin' a fool.

One group will mercilessly satired, lampooned, and stereotyped, the others will be heralded, and shown in a completely positive light. Note they're chilling on the beach, doing "sideshow" donuts and riding in style in their cars, and not -- decidedly not -- actin' a fool. No looting. No gathering in groups and beating on lone old white guys. Nothing that might, in a timeline where we could have balanced takes on Real Life In America, actually satire and do that "cultural critique" thing Rockstar supposedly does so well.

Nope, just Billy Ray Bob and Aunt Karen this time.

I'm just going from the trailer. At least GTA V was equally ruthless in lampooning the dumbasses in both black and white America, from the hillbillies to the corporates, to the gangstas and hoodrats, to the government agencies.

I don't think they're going to be as even-handed, or honest, in their satire this time.

[Masque]

If the target of satire is "Everyone", then it's what I call good satire.

e.g., George Carlin, South Park, Bill Maher

If the target is always and ever toward the acceptable programming "current thing" targets, and nothing at all for the acceptable programmed "PROTECTED current thing" targets? Even going so far as to go beyond the realm of satire and into outright repetitive demonization for claps, toward the former group of targets...

e.g., most stand-up, most TV comedy, Saturday Nite Live

That's woke.

And I don't know if people cannot tell the difference between the two types of satire...

...or if they will not.

[Holografix]

Masque a écrit :

Is the portrayal, going by the trailer alone, of black people considered offensive -- or instead is it considered "Lit AF" and seen as a legit representation of black people in America, and something to be proud of? Check the X and YouTube comments. Very few blacks are offended by their portrayal in this short trailer.

This is how you know what satire is. Is it making fun of black people, from what you can see?

No. I don't think it is, and I do believe that the intended audience of black Americans are watching this trailer and thinking "wow, Rockstar really did us good with this one". Indeed, the trailer showcases black people enjoying life in America to the fullest.

Now ask the same question about the white people in the trailer. How are they portrayed, aside from the main character? Rednecks and Karens, homeless and crazy, stereotypical Florida Man, actin' a fool.

One group will mercilessly satired, lampooned, and stereotyped, the others will be heralded, and shown in a completely positive light. Note they're chilling on the beach, doing "sideshow" donuts and riding in style in their cars, and not -- decidedly not -- actin' a fool. No looting. No gathering in groups and beating on lone old white guys. Nothing that might, in a timeline where we could have balanced takes on Real Life In America, actually satire and do that "cultural critique" thing Rockstar supposedly does so well.

Nope, just Billy Ray Bob and Aunt Karen this time.

I'm just going from the trailer. At least GTA V was equally ruthless in lampooning the dumbasses in both black and white America, from the hillbillies to the corporates, to the gangstas and hoodrats, to the government agencies.

I don't think they're going to be as even-handed, or honest, in their satire this time.

bruh

it's all in how you take it... if you can see the satire in one, and not the other, you're closing one eye while looking. gotta open both.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AilA-M6N5U

[Chunk Norris ☯]

Hoppled a écrit :

kingjames488 a écrit :

I've only somewhat recently thought I wrapped my head around this whole woke/based thing...

isn't south park based tho? since it depicts things that are more in tune with reality?

whereas GTA 6 would be more woke since it depicts a bunch of ridiculous racial bull**** to push an agenda? (keeping in mind that driving sales can also be an agenda)?

No, most of what is actually "woke" is ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ to begin with. Most of the people calling the GTA 6 trailer woke are probably just racist; I've yet to be proven otherwise. What I'd consider woke is something like Far Cry 6 or the new Spiderman game. "Woke", just means being progressive in a very cringe manner. Shoe-horned, uninspired characters that are solely there because their race, sexuality, etc., which is made evident by how poorly written and cringey they are.

If you look at a certain cutscene from Far Cry 6... its infuriatingly cringey. It's not even the progressive values themselves, but because of how its expressed and the characters. Progressivism can be shown in games without being cringey, which we have seen in games and media as far back as the 90s.

So... the whole word is quite meaningless, since it just means large companies disingenuously trying to "check boxes", rather than being real advocates for progressive ideas. It's all a business move. Same thing with Bud Light and same thing with Mr. Potato Head (I can't believe that's even considered progressive though tbh). There are of course the other side of "woke" you may see in media, where a tiktok will go viral with a blue-haired woman says "all white cis-men are evil", etc., but that is almost NEVER the case in a videogame, at least to what I've seen. Just cringe is what I observe.

It's not a meaningless word, and the companies that are "checking boxes" are about as real in their beliefs as actual progressives that will talk the talk, but are just "checking boxes" like the woke companies.. Both are progressive because it gives them "power", not because some fake-virtue signaling.

People who are anti-racist, tend to hate woke stuff because it keeps racism alive and it constantly tries to drive wedges between everyone.

If progressives were honest they've give their votes to someone like Trump over someone like Joe Biden any day of the week.

"If you have a problem figuring out who to vote for me or Trump, then you ain't black"-Joe Biden, how many progressives voted for that?

[Not Big Surprise]

because they can't ignore the nature of gta

[Hobbit XIII]

rock a écrit :

GTA's a satire on American culture, so the ones who are upset must've had that detail fly over their heads for the past six games. Rockstar mocks everyone, they usually don't care about reception, but there have been a few(?) instances that I vaguely recall where they changed something due to public reception.

The only reason I can think of that would explain the outrage from the vocal minority is that they see themselves/others they dislike in the stereotypes we see in the trailer. Just more whining from a bunch of spineless man-children who call everyone else snowflakes and woke—whatever that means.

This is one of the reasons I like GTA is its depiction of everybody being bit of an ass. Even Liam Gallagher managed to get himself a parody of in one of them or the typical rockers Love Fist of the British Isles.
The club guy in Vice City I cringed when I first played ie too realistic!
This is something Rockstar / GTA have gotten so right and to me its the American version of The Office, Red Dwarf, Monty Python's Life of Brian / Holy Grail and all that just a good laugh at how all us are.

This is important in life if you can laugh at yourself then something's going right.